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Hanley bruises rib to add to laundry list of injuries

Hanley bruises rib to add to laundry list of injuries

10/11/13: Hanley Ramirez is plunked by Joe Kelly in the first inning, causing the trainer to pay the slugger a visit

By Ken Gurnick
/
MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Hanley Ramirez was drilled in the ribs by a 95-mph Joe Kelly fastball in the first inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

But no bones were sticking through the skin, so the Dodgers shortstop played the remaining 12 innings of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Friday night.

Add a bruised rib to the checklist of injuries Ramirez is dealing with this October. The ones we know about are a lower back nerve issue that sends pain to a left hamstring he pulled earlier in the season. Then there's the chronic shoulder soreness, a side effect of surgery three years ago. He had that torn thumb ligament in Spring Training. And on and on and on.

Ramirez winced in the bottom of the first when he reached to snare a line drive by Matt Holliday.

"Hanley seemed like he was fine," said manager Don Mattingly.

Mattingly said the reason he had Mark Ellis sacrifice in the 12th inning, leading to a second intentional walk of Ramirez, had nothing to do with the shortstop's health.

"I know he got hit pretty good, but again, we're trying to get one run," said Mattingly. "We've got to put ourselves in a chance to score a run. So Hanley, the way he felt had nothing to do with anything."

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.